Written by the well-known Methodist educator, Dr. Earl Marlatt, "Are Ye Able" is taken directly from the Gospel lection of Proper 24, even though Dr. Marlatt's own explanation of the genesis of the hymn draws on the Johannine description of Jesus' disciples jockeying for status. Dr. Marlatt was a student at Boston University School of Theology in the 1920's, and wrote the hymn for a Consecration Service at the seminary in 1926. He originally gave it the name "Challenge."
The writing of this hymn is an instance where the tune helped to write the text. Dr. Marlatt himself relates the story:
Harry Wright, a fellow student at the seminary wrote a text to enter into a school contest which he wanted to set to a tune he half remembered from his childhood. Harry Mason took the basic theme of the tune Wright hummed and developed it into a full-blown melody. But, the song did not get much attention in the contest. Prof. Marlatt, who had overheard the whole song-making process in the dormitory where he was head resident, was particularly disappointed in the outcome of the contest. Later the next Spring he had cause to remember the whole scenario. This is when he was asked to write a hymn for the consecration of the officers of the Student Association at the School of Religious Education. He found that the expression, "Are ye able," from a sermon he had preached fit exactly the first measure of Wright's text and tune. After that the music "miraculously seemed to suggest the words until the whole hymn was finished in a single evening.Dr. Marlatt, had a long and distinguished career in the higher education insitutions of Methodism. He was at Boston University, holding a variety of academic positions, from 1925-1945. From 1946-1957 he was professor of philosopy of religion and religious literature at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. There a small chapel off the sanctuary of the main chapel is named in his memory. Following his retirement, he was curator of the Treasure Room and Hymn Museum in New York City and remained active in his love of hymnology until his death.
This author remembers but few of the preachers who preached to the seminarians at Perkins School of Theology, while she was in attendance there. There is one, however, who is remembered because he chose to answer honestly the question asked by Marlatt's hymn when he preached from Mk: 10:35-40. He said that he could not say he was "able" in the robust manner the hymn suggests, but he knew that he must do all that he could to struggle with the question's implications and the hymn's unhesitating affirmation of the true meaning of discipleship. Thanks to that sermon, this writer seldom can sing this hymn without remembering the implications of the question. Perhaps Dr. Marlett's original title is the more appropriate one after all.
Think on the challenge of the hymn as you read the words:
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1. "Are ye able," said the Master, "to be crucified with me?" "Yea," the sturdy dreamers answered, "to the death we follow thee." (Refrain) |
2. Are ye able to remember, when a thief lifts up his eyes, that his pardoned soul is worthy of a place in paradise? (Refrain) | |
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3. Are ye able when the shadows close around you with the sod, to believe that spirit triumphs, to commend your soul to God? (Refrain) |
4. Are ye able? Still the Master whispers down eternity, and heroic spirits answer, now as then in Galilee. (Refrain) | |
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God bless you--
Lection at HymnSite.com
Contributed by Rev. Linda K. Morgan-Clark
Job: See Index listing "Creation" p.940; see also Hymns 144-152
(Creation)
Isaiah: See Index listing, "Atonement" p.944; "Cross" p.944; see also
Hymns 278-301 (Passion & Death)
Psalm 104: See Job above; see also Hymns 57-101 (Praise and
Thanksgiving)
Psalm 91: See Index listing, "Presence" p.949
See Index listing, "Discipleship and Service" p.940, "Commitment" p. 939
See Isaiah above
God bless you!
| Passages suggested are from The Revised Common Lectionary: Consultation on Common Texts (Abingdon Press, 1992) copyright © by the Consultation on Common Texts (CCT), P.O. Box 340003, Room 381, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Reprinted with permission of CCT. |